La Rochelle Superb in Canterbury Classic Win
The weekly edition of premier racing on Addington Raceway sand gave way to another Thursday of action-packed racing. The return of Bolty, after a month off the scene, was the sprinting highlight of the evening as he showed his brilliance squeezing through a small gap in the middle of the pack before assuming control of the race. Win 20 from 27 starts in a modest 17.24s for the track record holder demonstrated another reminder of the class of the Daniel Lane trained greyhound.
The feature on the night's program was the running of the Kolorful Kanvas Canterbury Classic which showcased some of the finest up and coming talents the South has to offer. La Rochelle had been absent of luck in her previous runs, her third in her heat was full of merit after finding trouble early from an unsuitable wide draw. She was offered box two for the final - a draw she would take full advantage of. The Jason Dunn trained bitch out of Fleur Du Lys began very well pushing underneath last week's heat winner in Fairly Able before putting a space in her opposition heading down the back straight. Penalty Drop for Daniel Lane who was unbeaten in four starts closed gamely on the leader but was unable to bridge the gap. La Rochelle’s second win at start five her best so far as she proves herself a very promising bitch. Her overall time of 30.39s for the 520m feature included a very handy 17.92s run to the back mark and was within three lengths of the night's best time run by Homebush Fonzie who is a dog on the rise for John McInerney
Friday night at Hatrick Raceway Whanganui marked the heats for this week's finals of the Group One Whanganui Cup over 520 meters and the Group Two Whanganui stayers over 755m. A common theme occurred in all three of the staying heats as Emgrand Rose, Nova Willow, and Zipping Boston got out to massive leads before tiring badly in the home straight. Little Teegs for Arch Lawrence outstayed her field finishing very strongly in heat one in a 45.84s. Last year's Silver Collar finalist Bigtime Chloe for Mark Goodier ran home gamely for second grabbing a spot in this week's final. Goldstar Darwin for Steve and Bonnie Evans won the second heat as the outsider of his field, while Hot Platter stuck to her guns grinding out victory narrowly in heat three. Black Stockings and Shaynee guaranteed themselves final spots with their respective seconds while Goldstar Truman and Zipping Boston will make up the last two spots as they finished as the quickest third place getters.
Bigtime Brie started the first Whanganui Cup heat from a favourable wide draw in six, she would generally find the lead from out there but it was Miss Potential for Gary and Sandra Fredrickson who took early ascendency. Bigtime Brie copped a check out of the boxes and while she held on bravely for second, Miss potential would lead all of the way from box one cementing her spot in the final. Bigtime Cooper made an unimpeded beginning unlike his Kennel mate before him as he raced away down the back setting up a big win in heat two. Oster Bale for Craig Roberts managed to race into second to gain his spot in the $30,000 final. Bigtime Maple does not generally enjoy inside draws as she tends to run wide and find trouble on the first bend over the 520m Hatrick Raceway track, Friday, however, was a stark contrast as she held the lead out of the first bend as was always going to be hard to beat from there. New Zealand Derby winner Leonard Bale chased Maple tenaciously as he claimed his place in the Final with a gallant second. Bigtime Lantao made it four in the final for Lisa Cole as she carried on with her amazing form and unbeaten run at Hatrick with an all the way victory from the ace draw. She has now won 13 of her 19 starts and will line up in her first Group One race this Friday night.
